Bob the Builder  has canvassed further support for the recently launched Ten Bob campaign with the announcement today that Martin Yaffe International, the UK Master Toy Licensee for Bob the Builder and John Lewis Partnership have come on board in support of a £20 million charity fundraising effort and helping to celebrate Bob’s 10th Anniversary this year. Martin Yaffe International and John Lewis Partnership will launch a promotional campaign in the retailer’s Cheadle and Trafford stores offering a ‘ten bob’ or 50 pence donation from each Bob the Builder/Yaffe product to the New Manchester Children’s Hospital Appeal. The in-store promotion will feature POS materials, posters, Bob standees and leaflets, online and special appearances by Bob the Builder. The promotion runs from 10th August through to 7th September. Parts of the New Children’s Hospital in Manchester opened in mid-July with the official Royal opening set for 2011. All donations from the Yaffe/John Lewis promotion will go towards the new children’s hospital.

HIT Entertainment, producer and rights owner of Bob the Builder, launched Ten Bob earlier this year with the ‘two bob’s - football legend Sir Bobby Charlton and Bob the Builder – to support a final fundraising push for Bob’s official charity, the New Manchester Children’s Hospital Appeal. When open, it will be the largest children’s hospital in the UK, and is part of a £500 million state of the art facility in Central Manchester, recently granted a Royal Charter, which will not only cater for children, but also includes new centralised facilities for Manchester Royal Infirmary, Saint Mary’s Hospital for Women and Children and Manchester Eye Hospital.

“I am thrilled to be teaming up with another Bob, Bob the Builder, in aid of the fantastic “Ten Bob” campaign and the new Manchester Children’s Hospital. And right here in my home patch! The new children’s hospital will directly help so many children, and their parents, throughout Manchester and the North of England” said Sir Bobby Charlton.

Kristian Johnson, Marketing Manager at Martin Yaffe, commented, “This is such a worthwhile cuase and one that we are delighted to have supported for some time now. “Ten Bob” will be taking over the Cheadle and Trafford toy departments for the Summer holidays; visitors will even be treated to a visit by Bob himself! The teams at Trafford and Cheadle are ready for some serious Fix-It fun and we hope to raise as much money as possible for this special charity.”